The splashes. The grimaces and frowns. The transition on Nick Saban’s face.

Like a dog feeling a benevolent child owner’s loving tug at the bone in its mouth, Saban does his best in the moment to tolerate the Gatorade bath. He begrudgingly pauses his legendary focus long enough to muster an appropriate acknowledgement of his players’ gesture.

Now, contrast that with Saban’s immediate reaction in the aftermath of Alabama’s 38-17 victory over LSU last season.

See Nick Saban walk out toward his postgame acknowledgement of LSU counterpart Les Miles. See former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron walk to intercept his coach.

See Nick Saban jump in McCarron’s arms.

It was a great moment, made more so because it seemed so out of character for Saban. It was a regular-season game, for crying out loud.

The moment was indicative of Saban’s relationship with McCarron, certainly at the time, but more indicative of how beating LSU is viewed within Alabama’s team circle.

There’s just one problem. It was the last celebratory moment of a season in which Alabama was supposed to win a record third consecutive national title.

The mediocre showing at Mississippi State came a week later, complete with camera shot of Saban mocking McCarron’s chicken-wing, side-armed interception.

After the usual Iron Bowl tuneup, there was the Iron Bowl letdown, followed by the Sugar Bowl letdown.

Alabama will probably beat LSU again Saturday in Baton Rouge.

Yes, the young Tigers have improved over this season. They were too young to be favored in the SEC West Division but too talented not to gain footing and affect the race, which they did two weeks ago by upsetting an Ole Miss team that beat Alabama.

LSU has found itself with the running game and more multiples on a defense that leads the nation in opponents’ pass efficiency, and we’re talking about Tiger Stadium at night.

But LSU’s offense is one-dimensional, and its one dimension runs smack into the strength of Alabama’s defense ... its front seven.

We have yet to see the defense that’s kept Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin from feeding wide receiver Amari Cooper the ball.

The reasons to think Alabama wins this game, maybe by a couple of touchdowns, seem more based in realism. Reasons to think otherwise seem more hopeful, but then what?

Alabama and LSU have had quite a history in the Saban-Miles years. There was the “Game of the Century” in 2011, followed by the national-final rematch. There was the drive and McCarron’s screen pass to T.J. Yeldon in 2012, following by McCarron’s emotional visit to his family’s location in the seats.

After Alabama dominated the second half last season, the rest of the roster saw Saban pay an emotional and out-of-character visit to McCarron’s arms.

Alabama and LSU have viewed each other as the “other” in the Saban-Miles years. They invest a lot in the game. LSU has scheduled an open date before playing Alabama five consecutive seasons, and Alabama has done it before playing LSU five of the past six.

After LSU, one-loss Alabama must play undefeated Mississippi State, which is ranked No. 1 in both major polls and by the College Football Playoff committee.

There’s the usual Iron Bowl tuneup then No. 3 Auburn in a rematch of last season’s most wrenching loss.

Assuming Alabama does what it should at LSU, great stakes come in the weeks to follow. It would seem like a good time to just shake hands and head to the locker room.